Hi ,
Most of us have been taught that big decisions should come with absolute certainty.
We wait for the right timing.
The right experience.
The right amount of confidence.
But what if the real key to success isn’t waiting—but moving before you feel ready?
I’ve spent years talking to purpose-driven entrepreneurs, creators, and career transitioners. The ones who make the leap, the ones who carve their own paths, aren’t always the most prepared—but they are the most willing.
They bet on themselves before anyone else does.
That’s exactly what my friend Jenny Wood writes about in her new book, Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It.
The 9 Traits That Set High Achievers Apart
Jenny, a former Google executive who built one of the company’s largest career programs, spent years coaching high performers. And she noticed something:
The people who moved up the fastest weren’t necessarily the smartest or most experienced.
They were the ones willing to embrace 9 traits that most of us are told to suppress:
- Weird – Win as yourself or lose trying to be someone else.
- Selfish – Be your own champion.
- Shameless – Promote your work without cringing.
- Obsessed – Focus relentlessly on what moves the needle.
- Nosy – Get curious, network smarter, and ask the right questions.
- Manipulative – Influence with empathy and strategy.
- Brutal – Set boundaries and defend your time.
- Reckless – Take bold, calculated risks before you feel ready.
- Bossy – Lead with confidence, even when you’re not in charge.
At first glance, these sound like bad traits.
Being Selfish? Reckless? Manipulative? Aren’t those kind of like the 9 deadly sins of career growth?
Used in the way most people think about them, probably so. But when used differently, more strategically and holistically, these very traits just might hold the potential to take more control of your career, make an impact, and build the life you actually want.
Let’s take the idea of being reckless as an example…Why Reckless Action Might be a Key to Growth
We’ve been told to take our time. To be careful. To make sure we’re fully ready before we take a big step. Cross ALL of your T’s, dot ALL of your i’s. Right?
But, according to Jenny, high achievers actually don’t wait for readiness.
Jenny calls this “Reckless” action—not the kind that’s impulsive or thoughtless, but the kind that prioritizes bold movement over endless hesitation.
Because no one is coming to give you permission.
How This Plays Out in Real Life
Imagine two people:
Alex is thoughtful, careful, and methodical. He waits until he has every skill before applying for a stretch role. He hesitates to pitch big ideas until he feels fully qualified.
Jordan is equally smart and hardworking. But she sends the pitch before her idea is “perfect.” She takes the job before she’s mastered every skill. She steps into leadership before she feels like a leader.
Who do you think gets ahead faster?
Jordan. Every time.
Because success doesn’t reward waiting. It rewards doing.
Does that mean the burden is now on her to do the work to get up to speed, be able execute, and deliver on what was promised? Yes, of course. It’s not about making claims or promises, then failing to deliver. It’s about making them, then trusting you have what it takes to figure it out along the way.
Stop Waiting. Start Moving.
If you’re holding off on something big—starting the business, changing careers, launching the thing you’ve been dreaming about—ask yourself this:
- What would I do if I wasn’t waiting to feel ready?
- If I knew failure was part of the process, what action would I take today?
And then, take that action.
Because the people who move the fastest, who build the best teams, who design lives they actually want, they don’t just work harder—they think differently.
They embrace the 9 unconventional traits Jenny breaks down in Wild Courage.
What Happens When You Stop Waiting
When I started writing, I wasn’t sure anyone would care. When I began building my own path, I had no guarantees. When I built my first business, wrote my first book, launched my first product, ran my first event, recorded my first podcast, I had no idea if anyone would show up to support any of it.
Now, 6 books, 5 businesses, countless products and events, and 100-million podcast plays in, I have an answer. But, none of it would have happened, had I waited to feel 100% ready to do it.
At some point, I had to take the leap of faith. And, yes, there were many other stumbles and failures along the way. Not every leap is going to end in a win. But they taught me how to grow and improve, and the experiences showed me how important it is to act, even when–especially when–you don’t know how it’s going to end.
The truth is:
✔ No one is going to hand you the perfect opportunity.
✔ No one is going to make that first move for you.
✔ No one is going to build your dream for you.
The world rewards action.
And action—not thinking—provides clarity.
If you want to go a lot deeper into all 9 traits, go check out Wild Couragenow.
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Your Thoughts May Not Be Private for Long…
What if your headphones or smartwatch could read your mind? In this eye-opening conversation, Jonathan Fields sits down with leading neuroethics expert Nita A. Farahany to explore the stunning rise of brain-computer interfaces from companies like Meta and Apple. Could these technologies enhance mental health and productivity—or pose a chilling threat to privacy and freedom of thought? Don’t miss this fascinating deep dive into the future of neurotechnology—and what it means for you.
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